Picture frame structure

ABSTRACT

Picture frame formed of extruded vertical and horizontal elements wherein a corner bracket cooperates with channels molded into the profile of the vertical and horizontal frame elements to hold the elements firmly in assembled position and serrated wedges are provided for demountably holding a framed picture in the assembled frame elements.

nite Mrs Watt 1 mom 11,7

[72] inventor Michael lfinillel [56] References Cited 2 A l N 53., New(01111, LY. 7021 UNITED STATES PATENTS g WW 2,451,076 10/1948 Edwards287/189.36H M5] Patented 2,505,553 4/1950 lfirantz ....287/189.36H X2,736,403 2/1956 Gwynne ..287/189.36HX 2,805,506 9/1957 Thompson .287/189.36 H X 3,253,847 5/1966 Webster 287/189.36H

Primary Examiner-David J. Williamowsky Assistant Examiner-Wayne L. Shedd5 EPIHCWRE FRAME sTMUCWElE Attorney- Albert H. Graddis 2 Cs, 5 Drawingll lrgs.

[52] USA1311 ZN/159361111, ABSTRACT: Picture frame formed of extrudedvertical and 287/2092 C, 52/656 horizontal elements wherein a cornerbracket cooperates with [51] lint. (III. EH61 channels molded into theprofile of the vertical and horizontal [50] ll ielldl of h 287/189.36frame elements to hold the elements firmly in assembled posi- H, 20.92C, 20.92 D, 20.924-20.927, 54 A, 54 B, tion and serrated wedges areprovided for demountably hold- 54 C; 52/656 ing a framed picture in theassembled frame elements.

ricruna rnmvin sirnucrlunn The present invention relates to a novelsectional picture frame structure and relates more particularly to apicture frame structure formed from a plurality of interchangeableelements of variable length but of the same cross-sectional profile soas to permit completed picture frame structures to be easily and quicklyassembled and disassembled.

Picture frames are most commonly formed of wooden side members ofvarying cross section and design and even in modest sizes are relativelyexpensive since they are difficult to cut and bevel and then to assembleaccurately with joints which are neatly fitted and precise. In addition,in any completely framed picture, the placing of the particular picturein the frame is relatively permanent since the usual glass facing, matsand backing which are employed with the picture must be held in theframe by means of a series of nails hammered into the frame. The glassfacing, picture, mats and backing are sealed off at the rear by a sheetmaterial such as paper which is permanently glued into position so thatthe problem of dust collecting inside on the surface of the picture oron the inside of the glass facing covering the picture will beminimized. Once framed, of course, there is no possibility ofinterchanging the frame and picture with another without the necessityfor unsealing the combination and going through all the steps necessaryfor redoing the whole framing operation.

It is, therefore, an important object of this invention to provide apicture frame structure formed of interchangeable prefabricated partswhich may be assembled quickly and easily to form an attractive andeconomical frame structure.

Another object of this invention is to provide a picture frame structurewherein the picture, mats and any glass or backing employed inconnection with the framed picture may be locked into position in theframe without employing the usual nails and then readily disassembled asdesired for clean ing, etc.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel picture framestructure wherein the elements forming the sides of the frame are formedby extrusion processes in the desired cross-sectional profile andsubstantially any desired longitudinal dimension.

Yet another object of this invention is the provision of premoldedchannels in the picture frame elements which are premolded so as to beadapted to receive locking members which when locked into position incooperation with said picture frame elements produces a clean, strongand attractive corner joint in said assembled picture frame.

Other objects of this invention will appear from the following detaileddescription.

In the drawing:

FIG. I is a view in perspective of a picture frame in assembled formshowing a completely framed picture and, in phantom, the wedge meansprovided for locking the framed picture in its normal display positionwithin the frame;

FIG. 2; is a detail of the picture frame assembly, in perspective,showing the manner in which the corner-locking means cooperates with thepicture frame members to form a firm, rigid corner;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of a corner of the picture frame assembly showingthe corner-locking means and picture frame members in final assembledposition;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the assembled frame with the framedpicture in position illustrating the manner in which the wedge meansprovided for locking the picture in position cooperates with the frame;and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 1 showing thewedge means locked into position in cooperation with the frame memberand holding the framed picture in locked position.

Like members indicated like parts throughout the several views of thedrawing.

Referring now to the drawing, and more particularly to FIG. ll,reference numeral It) generally indicates a picture and picture frameassembled in accordance with the present invention comprising a pair ofhorizontal members ll cooperating with a pair of vertical members l2.

Both the horizontal and vertical members comprising said frame are ofidentical cross-sectional profile. Most conveniently the members areformed by continuously extruding a suitable thermoplastic materialthrough a die of the desired shape. Thus, frame members of substantiallyany desired length may be formed and only require, as shown in FIG. 2,that they be beveled at each end at a 45 angle to be ready for assembly.

In cross-sectional profile horizontal members II and vertical members112 are extruded through a die so formed that each is provided with acontinuous longitudinal slot 13 which communicates with the rear face ofeach member as shown in FIG. 3. The front face MI is provided with anoverhanging lip 15 which may be solid or may be provided with adecorative groove 16. The inner face of each of the picture framemembers is extruded so that the surface forms a series of parallelserrations 18 whose function will be described more particularlyhereinafter.

In order to bring the horizontal and vertical frame members intoassembled position, a corner-locking means is provided in the form of aright-angled bracket 19 having a horizontal leg 20 and a vertical leg21. Each leg is curved at the center to form bulges 22 and 23. Thus, asshown in FIG. 2, horizontal leg 20 of bracket 19 is slid intolongitudinal slot l3 of horizontal member Ill and vertical leg 21 isslid into the longitudinal slot 13 provided in vertical member 12.Members Ill and 12 are then pressed home with bracket 19 in positionuntil the beveled ends of said members are in touching contact thusforming a corner as shown in FIG. 3. Since bulge 22 and 23 causeeach legof bracket 19 to be slightly thicker than the corresponding dimension oflongitudinal slot 13, a firmly anchored frictional fit is therebyproduced in each of the four corners comprising the assembled pictureframe.

In order to mount a picture in the assembled frame a sheet of glass 24,as shown in FIGS. 4, and 5 and cut to the proper dimensions of lengthand width, is placed in the assembled frame so as to engage the innersurface of overhanging lip 15. The picture 2 being framed is mounted ona support or backing 26 which is also cut to the proper dimensions oflength and width, and is then place-d in position behind glass 24. Alocking wedge 27 having a serrated surface 28 is then placed in theposition shown in FIG. i. Locking wedge 27 is then pressed into theposition shown in FIG. 5 thus causing serrated surface 28 to be lockedinto the serrations l8 ofinner face l7 and in this manner thecombination of glass 24, picture 25 and support 26 is held firmlyagainst overhanging lip 15. By utilizing a plurality of wedges 27, asshown in FIG. ll, one or more cooperating with each of the horizontaland vertical members forming the assembled picture, the mounted pictureis held firmly in position. To change the picture, or to remove it fordusting, wedges 27 are forcibly withdrawn, the picture then cleaned, orreplaced if' desired, and the picture then returned to the frame andlocked in position as described by resetting locking wedges 27 back intotheir original position as shown in FIG. 5.

What is claimed is:

1. In a picture frame assembly comprising a pair of vertical and a pairof horizontal members forming said frame and adapted to receive apicture therein, said members being readily separable from each otherbut normally maintained in angular abutting relationship to each otherby corner assembly means, said vertical and horizontal members eachbeing extruded elements having the same cross-sectional profile, saidprofile including front, side, inner and rear faces, the said front faceforming an overhanging lip of which reenters to form a portion of arecessed inner face, the surface of said recessed inner face comprisinga plurality of longitudinal ser rations, said rear face having acontinuous longitudinal slot thereby engage the rear surface of thepicture being framed and to thus maintain it in fixed position againstthe rear surface of said overhanging lip.

2. Assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein a surface of said wedgemeans is provided with a plurality of serrations complementary to thoseprovided in the recessed inner face.

1. In a picture frame assembly comprising a pair of vertical and a pairof horizontal members forming said frame and adapted to receive apicture therein, said members being readily separable from each otherbut normally maintained in angular abutting relationship to each otherby corner assembly means, said vertical and horizontal members eachbeing extruded elements having the same cross-sectional profile, saidprofile including front, side, inner and rear faces, the said front faceforming an overhanging lip of which reenters to form a portion of arecessed inner face, the surface of said recessed inner face comprisinga plurality of longitudinal serrations, said rear face having acontinuous longitudinal slot recessed into and communicating with saidrear face and adapted to slidably receive and frictionally engage acorner assemble means, said corner assembly means comprising atwo-legged right-angled bracket, one leg of each being adapted to enterand frictionally engage the longitudinal slot provided in each of saidvertical and horizontal members and thereby to form a rigid corner, andwedge means in cooperative engagement with the serrated portion of therecessed inner faces and thereby engage the rear surface of the picturebeing framed and to thus maintain it in fixed position against the rearsurface of said overhanging lip.
 2. Assembly in accordance with claim 1wherein a surface of said wedge means is provided with a plurality ofserrations complementary to those provided in the recessed inner face.